Tottenham’s dismal start to the season got worse as Newcastle’s second-half masterclass left De Zerbi’s side without a goal in two games. After a frustrating first 45 minutes of possession without penetration, Spurs crumbled following tactical changes from both benches, with substitute Woltemade’s introduction proving instantly devastating as Wissa doubled Newcastle’s advantage. Systemic issues in midfield and down the left flank left Omar Marmoush isolated, and with five goals conceded already, De Zerbi faces mounting pressure to spark an immediate turnaround.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham have yet to score a Premier League goal this season. Newcastle made that record look even grimmer on Saturday, as Elanga and Wissa converted in a devastating 62nd-to-72nd-minute stretch to take all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs controlled the ball for much of the afternoon but were utterly wasteful when it mattered, and Matthias Jaissle’s side were ruthlessly efficient on the counter.
Key Moments
- 3′, M. van de Ven picked up an early yellow card for tripping, setting a nervy tone for the Spurs backline.
- 62′, Elanga broke the deadlock, finishing from a pass by Dedić to give Newcastle the lead against the run of possession.
- 68′, De Zerbi responded with a triple substitution, sending on Moore, Udogie and Kudus in an attempt to find an equalizer.
- 71′, Woltemade came off the bench for Newcastle, and within 60 seconds made his mark on the game.
- 72′, Wissa doubled the lead, converting an assist from substitute Woltemade to effectively end the contest.
Tactical Breakdown
Tottenham dominated possession at 58% and registered 17 shots, six of them on target, yet Horníček was rarely tested in any meaningful way. De Zerbi’s 4-2-3-1 moved the ball patiently through the lines, but the final product was poor: nine corners and eight shots off goal tell the story of a side that circulated without cutting. Newcastle, sitting in a compact 4-2-3-1 of their own at 42% possession, were content to absorb and wait.
The match turned on Jaissle’s substitutions. Bringing Woltemade on at the 71st minute proved immediately decisive: within a minute the forward slid the ball through for Wissa to double Newcastle’s lead. Spurs had just made their own triple change three minutes earlier, a reshuffle that disrupted rather than reinvigorated their shape, and they were punished by a side that had no interest in sitting on a one-goal cushion.
For Tottenham, the problems were systemic rather than individual. Their left flank looked exposed early and Robertson was withdrawn at half-time of the second half, replaced by Udogie. The midfield pairing of Bentancur and Tonali struggled to create forward momentum, and without service Omar Marmoush spent most of the afternoon isolated. Two games into the season, De Zerbi’s side have yet to open their account, conceding five goals in the process.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
Newcastle move to four points and sit third in the early Premier League table, with their unbeaten start giving Matthias Jaissle’s project genuine momentum. Tottenham, meanwhile, sit bottom with no points and no goals scored after two games, and De Zerbi faces an early test of his ability to stabilize a side that looks short of confidence and creativity in the final third.